ExpreS2ion and ABIVAX announce development collaboration on the Ebola prophylaxis and treatment program, ABX544

Horsholm, Denmark and Paris, France, December 12, 2016 – Today, ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies ApS (“ExpreS2ion”), a fully owned subsidiary of ExpreS2ion Biotech Holding AB, and ABIVAX S.A., (Euronext Paris: FR0012333284 – ABVX), an innovative biotechnology company targeting the immune system to eliminate viral disease, have entered into a service agreement and a term sheet for a commercial license agreement under which ExpreS2ion and ABIVAX collaborate in the development of their proprietary prophylactic and treatment for Ebola virus infection, ABX544. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Agreement

ExpreS2ion and ABIVAX have signed a Process Development Service Agreement (“the Service Agreement”), as well as a term sheet for a Commercial ExpreS2ion Platform License Agreement (“the License Agreement”) for ABX544, which specifies the terms and conditions for a commercial license to ExpreS2ion’s proprietary technology platform, ExpreS2. According to the Service Agreement, ExpreS2ion will develop a process for the GMP production of an Ebola antigen, which is required for the production of ABX544. The overall preclinical work package is expected to be executed in 2017. The corresponding License Agreement is scheduled to be signed within three months. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Ebola

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe and often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals (fruit bats and monkeys) and following spread in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%, but fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in West Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas. This 2014/15 outbreak was particularly severe, causing the disease in >28.000 individuals of which >11.000 died. There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines (but two potential candidates are undergoing evaluation) and no specific treatments (WHO Jan. 2016).

ABX544 

The ABX544 program targets the generation of an Ebola hyperimmune anti-serum, containing neutralising antibodies produced from animals immunised with a specific Ebola antigen. In contrast to a vaccine that needs time to generate a protective response, ABX544 should have an immediate effect when administered. It can be applied either as treatment of infected persons or for protection of non-infected persons including health care workers, constituting a first line of defence during epidemic outbreaks. Following the formal preclinical evaluation including toxicology, ABIVAX aims to bring ABX544 into clinical trials.

Executive Management Comments

Prof. Hartmut Ehrlich, M.D., CEO of ABIVAX, said: “We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with ExpreS2ion, as this will be a major enabler for our ABX544 Ebola program. Ebola is a devastating disease with no licensed vaccines or therapeutics, and ABX544 has the potential to address the urgent need for immediate prophylaxis and treatment during future outbreaks.”

Dr. Steen Klysner, CEO, ExpreS2ion, commented: “We are pleased that ABIVAX has chosen our ExpreS2 platform to produce the antigen required for their ABX544 Ebola programme. We see a good synergy between the ExpreS2 platform’s capability for rapid production of high quality antigens and ABIVAX' approach for ABX544 and we look forward to support the development of this first-in-class product.” 

About Abivax

ABIVAX (Euronext Paris: FR0012333284 – ABVX) is an innovative biotechnology company focused on targeting the immune system to eliminate viral disease. ABIVAX leverages three technology platforms for drug discovery: an anti-viral, an immune enhancement, and a polyclonal antibody platform. ABX464, its most advanced compound, is currently in Phase II clinical trials for providing a functional cure for patients with HIV/AIDS. It is a first-in-class oral small anti-viral molecule which blocks HIV replication through a unique mechanism of action and also has a strong anti-inflammatory effect.  In addition, ABIVAX is advancing a clinical stage immune enhancer as well as multiple preclinical candidates against additional viral targets (i.e. Chikungunya, Ebola, Dengue) and several of these compounds are planned to enter clinical development within the next 18 months. 

Contacts ExpreS2ion

For further information, please contact: 

Dr. Steen Klysner, CEO ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies
Telephone: +45 2062 9908
E-mail: sk@expres2ionbio.com

Certified Advisor

Sedermera Fondkommission is appointed as Certified Adviser for ExpreS2ion.

Contacts ABIVAX

Alain Chevallier

Alain.chevallier@abivax.com

+33 1 53 83 08 41  

ABIVAX Press Relations

ALIZE RP

Caroline Carmagnol/Margaux Pronost

abivax@alizerp.com

+33 6 64 18 99 59 / +33 1 44 54 36 65

MC Services

Anne Hennecke/Solveigh Maehler

solveigh.maehler@mc-services.eu

+49 211 529 252 19

LifeSci Advisors

Chris Maggos

chris@lifesciadvisors.com

+41 79 367 6254

For further information, please contact

Dr. Steen Klysner, CEO ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies
Telephone: +45 2062 9908
E-mail: sk@expres2ionbio.com

This press release is information that ExpreS2ion is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above on December 12, 2016.

About ExpreS2ion

ExpreS2ion Biotech Holding AB (Nasdaq First North: EXPRS2; CR No. 559033-3729), has through the wholly owned Danish subsidiary ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies ApS, developed a platform technology enabling cost effective and robust production of complex proteins for the development of vaccines and diagnostics for e.g. Malaria and Zika. Since foundation in 2010, the subsidiary has used its patented ExpreS2platform to produce more than 200 proteins in collaboration with research institutions and biopharmaceutical companies, with an efficiency and success rate superior to competing technologies.

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